John Morse recall: Accusations of intimidation by his backers swirl

Sen. President John Morse is facing a recall[1] election. (AAron Ontiveroz, The Denver Post)

From phone calls to “unsavory” postcards in the mail, Barbi Brown[2] on Monday said she’s been the subject of alleged intimidation on the part of backers of Senate President John Morse[3] in a recall effort to oust the state lawmaker from office.

“They’ve called me and said people have changed their minds and I should take my name off the recall list,” said Brown, 81, who lives in an apartment in Senate District 11 near Memorial Park. “I said, ‘No way!'”

Brown was among about a dozen constituents of Morse who said Monday they’ve received phone calls from officials with A Whole Lot of People for John Morse — the group backing the state lawmaker — urging them to withdraw their names from petitions.

“Senator Morse is so desperate to keep his seat that now no one is exempt from the harassment; it ranges across party lines as well as demographic lines,” said Jennifer Kerns, a spokeswoman for the Basic Freedom Defense Fund[6] — which partners with the El Paso Freedom Defense Committee. “It appears that he will attempt to silence your voice if you are among Republicans, Democrats, Independents, senior citizens, women, and the infirm.”

Christy Le Lait[7], campaign manager for A Whole Lot of People for John Morse, said Monday her group is working diligently to “uncover the rampant forgery and fraud that has permeated this recall campaign.” On Friday, Morse supporters alleged forgery on the part of signature gathers[8] associated with El Paso Freedom Defense Committee. They have until Wednesday to submit a signature verification contest to the secretary of state’s office.

“Phone calls and going door-to-door are the only way to verify and notify voters about the possible identity theft. Our canvassers and phone team have acted in the most professional manner despite the anger and hostility in some households,” Le Lait said.

According to a news release, in one instance a constituent, Kevin Barney, alleges to have received a phone call in which a Morse supporter threatened he “might get audited.” This occurred around the same time news of the IRS scandals targeting Tea Party groups reverberated nationally.

Later this week the Colorado secretary of state’s office is set to announce its decision on a legal protest filed by Morse backers [9]that looks to nullify the more than 10,100 signatures organizer had verified. They cite a constitutional technicality and, no matter the decision, the issue is headed for district court.

For Brown, a Republican, she just wants “the people’s voice” to be heard in this recall effort.